Shamel Pitts

Shamel Pitts is a performance artist, dancer, spoken word artist, and a teacher.

Born In Brooklyn, NY, Shamel began his dance training at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and The Performing Arts. Simultaneously, he trained at The Ailey School (Official School of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater). Shamel received his BFA from The Juilliard School and was awarded The Martha Hill Award for Excellence in Dance. Upon graduating, He joined and performed with Mikhail Baryshnikov’s Hell’s Kitchen Dance. Shamel later moved to Montreal to dance with BJM_Danse (Formerly known as Les Ballets Jazz De Montreal). Later, he moved to Tel Aviv to join Batsheva Dance Company under the artistic direction of Ohad Naharin.

Currently based in Tel Aviv, Shamel has been a collaborator for many artists including Alex Apt, Bobbi Jene Smith, and Billy Barry. He has been a pivotal figure in the city and nightlife events of the city of Tel Aviv.

Shamel is a teacher of “Gaga”, the movement language created by Ohad Naharin (www.gagapeople.com)